Four steps to improve missile defense cooperation btween the U.S. and Poland

Source  :  Atlantic Council

From Ian Brzezinski, New Atlanticist: For Poland, accepting US missile defense deployments has never been driven by fear of Iran; it is rooted in the desire for an American military presence that reinforces the credibility of NATO’s Article V security guarantee. Washington’s repeated delays of deploying missile defense systems to Poland are easily interpreted as an American assumption that Warsaw can be taken for granted and worse as a declining US commitment to Poland’s security. The latter has been reinforced by the Obama administration’s reduction of US forces in Europe and its so-called “pivot” to Asia. . . .

There are steps the US Government can take to mitigate the potentially negative effects its recent decision could have for US-Poland relations.

Accelerate the construction and stand-up of the planned missile defense interceptor site in Poland. Pouring concrete and deploying personnel early as well as conducting with Poland preparatory military exercises related to the base's operations would reinforce sense of inevitability now lacking in this dimension of US-Poland relationship. Change the name of EPAA. The world “adaptable” should be dropped. It communicates unnecessary flexibility, if not hesitancy and uncertainty, about these plans. The new name should connote inevitability and permanence. A better alternative would be the Tran-Atlantic Missile Defense System (TAM-D). US transatlantic missile defense plans should be more clearly linked to the increasingly pervasive and persistent dangers posed by the proliferation of ballistic missile technologies and WMD, rather than be justified primarily by the threats posed by Iran. Today, Poles and others ponder what will happen to these plans if Tehran clearly meets Western demands regarding its weapons programs. Indeed, it remains President Obama’s stated policy to rethink these plans in the event of that outcome. Washington needs to eliminate that ambiguity. Demonstrate more interest and support to Poland’s own air and missile defense plans. Currently, the Obama Administration has not embraced this Polish program with full enthusiasm. This is surprising as air and missile defense is an important NATO capability requirement, one whose relevance has been underscored by the Alliance’s recent deployments of PATRIOT batteries to Turkey to guard against Syrian attacks.

A stronger US endorsement of Polish missile defense plans would demonstrate that Washington takes Poland’s security perceptions seriously and that security relations with Central Europe is not a trade-off in the effort to build a partnership with Russia. More importantly, it would reaffirm that Washington envisions US-Poland missile defense cooperation as more than just the leveraging of Polish territory. It would signal determination to have air and missile defense become a shared capability and one that is a robust and unifying pillar of bilateral collaboration among two long-standing strategic allies.

Ian Brzezinski is a senior fellow in the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and is on the Council’s Strategic Advisors Group (SAG).

Russian Air Defense Force Starts Massive Drills

Source :  Strategic-Culture.org

More than 500 weapon systems, 50 aircraft and some 2,000 troops have been deployed in a large-scale air-defense exercise in eastern Russia, military officials said on Wednesday.

The exercise beginning on Wednesday in the Republic of Buryatia saw the use of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, Osa, Buk, Strela and Shilka antiaircraft missiles, Igla man-portable SAM missiles, and Pantsir-S gun- missile systems, Eastern Military District press officer Lt. Col. Alexander Gordeyev said.

Gordeyev said the Pantsir-S systems were delivered to the district in late 2012.

The system combines a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 57E6 short-range missiles. The Pantsir can engage targets at a range of 20 kilometers (12 miles) with missiles and at 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) with cannons.

The exercise is designed to test the readiness of the district’s air-defense forces and combat aviation to perform joint missions and rehearse a range of combat training tasks in modern warfare, Gordeyev said.

The exercise, under the command of Eastern Military District chief Adm. Konstantin Sidenko, will last through mid-April.

RIA Novosti

Russian Frigates to Get Advanced Missile Systems

Source  : Strategic Culture Foundation

Russia will install Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler) missile systems on three of its Project 11356 frigates, the Baltic shipbuilding plant said on Monday.

The plant, affiliated with the United Shipbuilding Corporation, will manufacture the missile systems for the Yantar shipyard before the end of 2014.

“Under an existing contract, the Baltic plant will install Kalibr systems on the first troika of frigates,” the plant said, adding that the next three frigates are also expected to be equipped with Kalibr missiles.

The Kalibr is capable of effectively engaging aerial, submerged and coastal targets, and has a range of up to 185 miles.

The Project 11356 Krivak IV-class is a guided-missile frigate designed to counter surface ships, submarines and airborne targets.

Indian test of cruise missile fails

Source : Trend.Az

The test of an Indian-built nuclear-capable cruise missile failed Tuesday, defence officials said, dpa reported.

The missile with an estimated strike range of more than 1,000 kilometres deviated from its flight path and had to be terminated to ensure coastal security, Defence Research and Development Organization spokesman Ravi Kumar Gupta said.

He said the launch was successful through booster separation and wing deployment before it deviated from the flight plan.

It was launched from an island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa

Defense Ministry in Talks to Buy Aerial Tankers Says UAC

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the Defense Ministry are in talks over a deal for new Ilyushin Il-78 Midas aerial refueling tankers for the Russian Air Force, UAC said on Tuesday.

The aerospace holding declined to say when a deal might be signed or on what terms.

“Work is in progress to agree the terms...but until the contract is signed we are unable to make any comment,” a UAC press service representative told RIA Novosti, adding that the contract is part of the State Arms Procurement Program for the period to 2020.

Some media reports in mid-February claimed the parties were close to signing a deal for 31 new Il-78 tankers.

The ll-78 is a four-engine aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76 heavy transport aircraft. A modernized version of the Il- 76MD-90A (also known as Il-476) will soon enter series production at the Ulyanovsk- based Aviastar-SP plant.

The new tankers would be based on the Il- 76MD-90A, which has a new wing, more efficient engines, higher payload and a new cockpit with a smalle flight crew than the old Il-76, which is no longer in production.

The Defense Ministry said last October it had signed a contract worth about 140 billion rubles ($4 billion) with UAC for the delivery of 39 Il-476 planes by 2020. Military Transport Aviation' commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Benediktov later said the service would in fact buy 48 of the planes by 2020.

The Russian Air Force operates 19 Il-78 tankers aircraft in the 203rd Guards Air Refueling Regiment, according to open sources.

Russian Navy Starts Forming Mediterranean Task Force

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Navy has begun setting up a permanent task force to defend Russia’s interests in the Mediterranean, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said Monday.

“The defense minister has ordered us to form a task force that will operate in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis,” Chirkov told reporters after a defense ministry meeting. “We have already started work on this task.”

The move comes at a time of increased international tension in the eastern Mediterranean due to the worsening civil war in Syria.

According to Chirkov, the issue has been discussed at the Navy's Main Headquarters, with the focus on logistics and training of commanding personnel.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier on Monday that a decision to deploy a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean had been made.

“I believe that we have the capability to form and maintain such a task force,” Shoigu said, citing the success of recent large-scale naval drills carried out by the Russian navy in the Mediterranean and Black seas.

The exercises involved warships from the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific fleets, strategic bombers and naval infantry.

Neither Shoigu nor Chirkov mentioned a timeline for the deployment of the new task force, which would likely require significant effort to ensure efficient logistics and the proper maintenance of warships in the Mediterranean group.

Shoigu admitted Monday that the general state of affairs in the navy "could not be called satisfactory," particularly in terms of poor servicing and maintenance of vessels.

“A significant part of the fleet has to be operated with extended periods [of time] between repairs, while many ships and vessels have armaments and military equipment that can be used only with restrictions," Shoigu said.

A high-ranking defense ministry source told RIA Novosti in the beginning of March that a proposed Russian permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea could consist of up to 10 combat and auxiliary ships from three of the existing fleets.

The task force may operate on a rotating basis and use ports in Cyprus, Montenegro, Greece and Syria as resupply points, the official added.

The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron in that sea from 1967 until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy 6th Fleet during the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels at different times.

Updated with modified headline and Shoigu's assessment of the sta

Zionist Entity, Greece, US Start 2-Week ‘Noble Dina’ Naval Drills

Source : Al Manar

The Zionist, Greek and US warships has started a joint two-week ‘Noble Dina’ naval exercise as a part of the security cooperation between the Zionist navy and other naval forces.

Zionist media said the exercise includes “defending offshore natural gas platforms, as well as simulated air-to-air combat and anti-submarine warfare.”

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recently reassured the Tel Avi regime that Washington would continue funding the Zionist costl missile system known as the Iron Dome, Press TV reported.

The Zionist authorities receive more than three billion dollars from th United States in direct foreign assistance every year.

Previously, the Zionist entity of occupation and the US carried ou exercises with Turkey. However, relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara soured after Turkey expelled the Zionist ambassador in 2011 and suspended military cooperation.

Turkey and Pakistan hold joint war games

Source : Vesti Kavkaza

Turkish and Pakistani Air Forces are holding joint war games, which will last until March 18, the Turkish General Staff says on its official website."The Indus Viper 2013 war games are being held by Turkish and Pakistani Air Forces on the Pakistani territory and will last until March 18," the statement reads.

Russia Vows to Keep Arms Deals With Caracas After Chavez Death

Source :  RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will continue military-technical cooperation with Venezuela regardless of who takes over power in the Latin American country after the death of its charismatic socialist leader Hugo Chavez, a Russian arms trade source said on Wednesday.

Chavez, 58, died on Tuesday following a two- year tough battle with cancer, leaving the country in a political turmoil.

“Whoever comes to power in Venezuela, our military-technical cooperation will continue because it is aimed primarily at safeguarding the national security of the country,” the source told RIA Novosti.

The official added that some defense contracts with Caracas include the construction of arms factories and servicing centers for military equipment, which helps the development of Venezuela’s economy in general.

“These areas, as a rule, are a priority for any government,” the source said.

Chavez had ambitious military plans, which he began implementing some time ago.

Between 2005 and 2007 Venezuela reached deals to buy $4-billion worth of arms from Russia, including Sukhoi fighter jets, combat helicopters, and over 100,000 light weapons, primarily the famous AK-103 assault rifles and a license to produce them in Venezuela.

Chavez's government also secured a $2.2-billion loan in 2010 to purchase a large batch of Russian weapons for its army, including 92 T-72M1M main battle tanks, about 240 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, and a variety of artillery systems.

The source said that Russian and Venezuelan officials met in Caracas earlier this year and reaffirmed their mutual desire to expand cooperation in a variety of areas, including military-technical, oil exploration and transportation.

According to Russian experts, Venezuela is expected to become the world’s second largest buyer of Russian weaponry after India by 20

Turkey creates IFF radar system

Source : http://www.turkishweekly

The Turkish military-industrial company Aselsan has created a radar system for "friendly- hostile" differentiation for air defense systems, combat aircrafts, helicopters and ships, Sabah newspaper said on Thursday.

The company has been working on the creation of the radar system for about seven years. According to the newspaper, a successful test of the system was conducted on F-4 fighters.

There are seven countries operating IFF radar systems. The company states its intention to start mass production of the recognition systems in the coming months.

Creation of the IFF system is part of the national program aimed at providing the Turkish army with arms, equipment and outfit of domestic production. Currently, Turkey has achieved 50 percent self-sufficiency in this sector.

Today Turkey produces Altai tanks, UAV ANKA, and aircraft carriers. Furthermore, the country declared its intention to produce guns and the second type of UAV "Simsek".